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Stow-on-the-Wold is a delightful market town (population circa. 2000) and along with Moreton in Marsh, perhaps the best known of the small Cotswolds towns.
 Stow-on the-Wold is the highest of the Cotswold towns standing exposed on 800 feet high Stow Hill at a junction of seven major roads, including the Roman Fosse Way.
At the height of the Cotswold wool industry the town was famous for its huge annual fairs where as many as 20,000 sheep were sold at one time.
The vast Market Square testifies to the towns former importance. At one end stands the ancient cross, and at the other the town stocks, shaded between an old elm tree. Around the square the visitor is faced with an elegant array of Cotswold town houses and shops.
Stow is an important shopping centre and has many fine Antique shops, Art galleries, Gifts and Crafts and is a centre for Walking the Cotswolds countryside.
Read about the last battle of the English Civil War at Stow-on-the-Wold in 1646.
For full interesting history of this ancient market town see - Stow-on-the-Wold Cotswold Blog.
The funeral of John Entwistle, the famous bass guitarist of The Who, was held at St Edward's Church Stow-on-the-Wold on 10 July 2002.
Top Ten Things to Do
- Don't miss the Gypsy Horse Fair held biannually (May and October) on open fields just 10 minutes walk from the centre of town. For more information and history see -
Gypsy Horsefair - Cotswold Blogs.
- Antique Shopping - Stow is well known as an antique shopping center.
- Eating Out - a wonderful choice of restaurants, bistros and tea shops to choose from including wide choice of pub food.
- Wide variety of shops including boutique for everything you could require from food to high end fashion.
- Visit the Cotswold Motoring Museum and Toy Collection, four miles away at Bourton-on-the-Water: vintage cars, caravans, enamel signs and historic toys in an old mill beside the River Windrush. Web: www.cotswoldmotoringmuseum.co.uk.
- Farmers Market held in The Square on 2nd Thursday of each month, 9am to 1pm.
- Visit St Edward's church - built between 11th and 15th century. Steeped in history with amazing stained glass windows.
- Visit nearby Cotswold famous gardens nearby of Hidcote Manor, Kiftsgate Court and Sezincote.
- Visit nearby Batsford Arboretum and Falconry centre.
- Visit nearby Chastleton House.
NEARBY
DRIVE TIMES -
Moreton in Marsh - 15 minutes
Broadway - 15 minutes
Chipping Campden - 25 minutes
Bourton on the Water - 15 minutes
Upper and Lower
Slaughter - 10 minutes
Bibury - 30 minutes
Burford - 20 minutes
Chastleton
House - 10 minutes
Snowshill Manor - 15 minutes
Broadway Tower - 15 minutes
Chedworth Roman Villa - 30 mimutes
Rollright Stone Circle - 15 minutes
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More pictures of Stow-on-the-Wold
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BBC 'Top Gear' Filming in Stow-on-the-Wold |
Interesting Facts
THE FATHER OF ENGLISH GEOLOGY
William Smith - known as the father of English Geology. Born in 1769, he first learned land surveying as a young man in
Stow-on-the-Wold, a place where he became aware of contrasting
rock formation with that of his native Oxfordshire. For more information see - Radstock Museum.
CHURES
In the 17th & 18th centuries Stow quickly developed as a cross roads and with the growth of the wool trade, the town prospered. Livestock (up to 20,000 sheep per day) were traded through Stow market from as far away as Wales. The town is criss-crossed by 'chures', narrow alleys formerly used to drive and count sheep to the The Square on Market Days.
It is believed that the word 'chure' is a corruption of the original true word - 'TURE'.
THE BATTLE OF STOW - 1646
A major battle was fought in Stow-on-the-Wold. Fighting continued into the Square and local legend tells that blood flowed down Digbeth Street such was the slaughter. Fighting in the town ended with the capture of the remains of the Royalist Army.
For further information see - Battle of Stow. |
Visiting Famous Gardens
There are several famous gardens within 20 minutes car journey of Stow-on-the-Wold including
Hidcote Manor, Snowshill Manor, Bourton House, Sezincote, Hidcote Manor, Kiftsgate Court
and Batdford Arboretum. See - Cotswold Gardens and North
Cotswold Gardens Map and Driving Directions. |
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The Gypsy Horse Fair at Stow-on-the-Wold is held bi-annually every year
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The famous artist L.S. Lowry and his winter scene depicts Stow-on-the-Wold
Market Square and St Edward’s Hall which is now the public library. |
Ink Sketch of Stow-on-the-Wold by Richard Grassi |
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Stow-on-the-Wold Visitor Information |
Explore Stow-on-the-Wold and nearbyNearby: Bourton-on-the-Water (3 miles), Lower Slaughter (3 miles), Upper Slaughter (3 miles), Kingham (4 miles), Moreton-in-Marsh (4 miles), Great Rissington (5 miles) |
